Glory

Read Psalm 19:1-6.

Are you listening? Can you hear it?

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (19:1).

When you read a book, you are "hearing" the voice of the author. I have been privileged to meet some authors along the way, and it's always uncanny when I then read one of their books. The words sound "just like them"—speech patterns and phrases translated into print. Reading their work gives you a glimpse of who they are.

When you listen to a symphony, you are getting a glimpse of the one who wrote it. Messiah gives us a glimpse into the mind and heart of Handel. When you hear a rock song or a lullaby, you get a look into the worldview and the state of mind of the author.

Creators are revealed in their creation.

Those who were close to Steve Jobs tell us that his obsession with detail shows up in the craftsmanship of Apple products, software and hardware, as well as in the people he hired. Jony Ive, for instance, was hired because of his sense that electronic products could also be beautiful—and his many design awards show that to be true.

A painting is not just a painting. Every painter, artist, is seen in his creation. For Rembrandt, that was often quite literally the case as he painted his face into many of his creations. For Van Gogh, his struggles with life are seen in the subject he chose to paint and the way he chose to represent them. Whether you are viewing a child's stick-figure drawing or a painting by a Master, you get a glimpse into the mind and heart of the artist.

Even church buildings tell you a lot about who the congregation intends to be by the choices they make in their building. Some are pole barns, others are great cathedrals. Some put up a building as quickly as they can, while others research and include great symbolism throughout the structure.

Creators are revealed in their creation.

So it should not come as any surprise that God the creator is revealed all throughout nature. His fingerprints are all over everything we see. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." If we are listening, we can hear the skies proclaim God's glory—not audibly, but in our spirit. That beautiful sunset shows off the hand of the master Artist. The expanse of the stars shows the intricate work of the master Builder. God's hand is seen wherever we may care to look. Do you need to get closer to God? Take a walk in his creation and listen. Watch. Be aware of his presence everywhere. Look for his glory and you will find it. Listen for the sounds of creation and hear his voice.